Spirit-level.



Nvu-703,678. Patented my l,4 |902..l l J. A. TnAuT. sPlmT' LEVEL.

(Application-Bled Jan. 28, 1902.)

(-No Model.)

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JUSTUS A. TRAUYT, OF NEWABRITAIN, CONNECTICUT.

selisir-Llaman..l

SPECIFICATIONforming part of Letters Patent No. 703,678, dated July 1, 1902. Application filed J'anuaryS, 1902. Serial No. 91,547. (No modelj T0 all whom it may concern,.-

Beit known that I, JUSTUS A. TRAUT, a citizen of the United States,residing in New Britainlin the county of Hartford'and State of Con-` necticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Spirit-Levels, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates, to spirit-levels; and it consists, substantially, in the improvements hereinafter more particularly described.

A great many disadvantages have been encountered hitherto in devices or implements of this kind,due largely to the insecure mounting of the level device (vial-glass case) proper upon the stock and also in some instances to the imperfect construction ofthe implement as a whole, rendering it frequently difficult to effect desired adjustments and often result'- ing in splitting of the stock and general dislocation or disorganization of the elements of the implement While in the hands of the mason or other operative. Other difficulties have also been encountered from a commercial pointof view, due to the necessarily eXp'enf sive character of the implement, rendered so from the unduly-complicated constructions resorted to iu many instances.

The present invention has for its object to overcome the above-mentioned' disadvantages and objections and to provide a device or implement of this kind in which either the level device (vial-glass case) proper or the stock therefor may b e supplied to the trade separately or independently either for the purposes of repair or for replacing broken parts or for other purposes.

A further object is to so construct the implement as to obviate tendency to splitting of the stock thereof and to pro vide means Whereby`the vial-glass case or level device is not dislocated or aected. on any variation ofthe pressure by whichl such device is clamped or` fastened in place vupon the stock.

A further Objectis to provide a seat for the level device of large capacityand also to so construct and organize the parts of the implement as to obviate any material reduction of the thickness of the stock at any point, therebyretaining maximum strength of the stock and materially adding to the general stability of the implement.

Astill further object is to provide a construction whereby the level device proper is centralized respecting both the wid th and thickness of. the stock` and' also to provide means whereby most accurate adjustments of the said device may be made with ease and in the'shortest space of time.

The above and additional objectsare attained by means substantially such as are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a side view of a spirit or masons .level embodying my improvements, and Fig. 2is a longitudinal sectional view thereof. Fig. 3 is an enlarged perspective view in detail, from which the general construction and organization o f parts are more fully understood. Fig. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of the level device proper. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the `clamping-plate or washer, showing a preferred form. Fig. 6 is a perspective view similar` to Fig. 4, showing a modiiication in the construction of the vial-glass case or level device proper. Fig. 7 is a side View in detail of a portion of the level, in which is embodied the case shown in the preceding figure; and Fig. 8 is a vertical sectional view thereof.

Before proceeding with a more detailed description it may be stated that in carrying my invention into effect l preferably give to the stock of the implement the general form used lby bricklayers and masons-that is to say, I construct the same at or nearA cach end with an opening for what may v.be termed the plumb-glass, and intermediate such openings I provide a similar opening for the levelglass. I give to said stock,`however, a special construction adjacent each of said openirggs, and l mount oneof my improved level devices proper vat each opening, although it will be understood that Imay only employ a single device at any one of the openings, according to the particular use'for'whi'ch the'implement is intended. My said .improved level device proper is also' ofspec'ial construction and is adjustable on an invar-iable'axis, and the same has a seat upon the stock in the direction of the greatest Widththereof and is so organized that the clamping force or pressure is in a direction which in any variation thereof will not result in dislocation of the said level device, and in virtue of the con- ICO struction of the said device a seat of large capacity is obtained therefor. The level device proper is held in place or position upon the stock by means of a clamping plate and screw and is readily adjustable by means of a screw-driver or other implement on slightly loosening the screw.

Specific reference being had to the drawings by the designating characters thereon, A represents the stock of my improved spiritlevel, which, as will be observed, is preferably formed at each end with an opening a for the plumb-glass and the intermediate opening b for the leveling-glass, such being the usual form of the well-known bricklayers or masons'level. Formed in the side of the stock at each of said openings is a recess c, which is substantially circular in form, except for the opening or break d in the wall thereof, which break is located just at the base of the opening and is for the purpose hereinafter more clearly understood. Said recesses are of comparatively limited depth, by which to preserve as much as possible of the material of the stock, and the bases and walls thereof constitute seats or bearings for the pendent or fastening portion of the level device A2, presentlyY to be described. The diameter of each of said recesses is also considerably less than the distance between the lower curved portions of the sides of the adjacent opening in the stock which intersect the base of said opening, the purpose of this feature of construction being fully understood hereinafter. Formed in the stock centrally of each of said recesses is a hole or opening e for the passage of the pin or screw e', which constitutes a pivot or axis for said level device A2, as well as a means of tightening the same in place when combined with the washer or clamping-plate, also to be presently described. On the opposite side the stock is counterbored around each of said openings e for the reception of a nut f, by which cach of the level devices is secured in place. Referring now to thc said level device (glass vial-case) proper A2, it may be said that preferably I construct the same of sheet metal rolled up into the form of a tube or vial-case B, leaving at one side a straight pendent shank or hanging portion g, the said portion being of substantially the same shape or contour as the recess c and fitting said recess preferably in the manner herein illustrated-that is to say, the Width of said pendent portion g is considerably less than the distance between the ends of said tube or vial-case B, free access being thus aorded for the insertion of a suitable device or implement beneath the end portions of said tube for purposes of adjustment of the leveling device. Said shank or hanging portion constitut-es the means by which the said level device A2 `is mounted in position upon the stock, and inasmuch as the same is pendent at the extreme side of the tubular portion B it follows that said tube is centralized between the sides or walls of the said openingsa aand b. In this way the parts or elements are balanced and the vial-case or tube B brought to a position by which it is protected from injury either from rough handling or from contact with external objects. The organization is such that the said case or tube extends nearly the full width of the opening in the stock, and it is to be noted that the said shank or hanging portion is formed with a central hole or opening g2, which coincides with the hole or opening@ in the bottom of the recesses c, and through which opening the pin or screw e' passes, as illustrated. The distance between the bottom or under side of the tube or case B and the base of the opening in the stock is comparatively limited, as will be seen, so that no considerable displacement of the leveling device on its axis is possible at any time. The relation between the tube B and hanging portion gis also such that but a comparatively small part of the material of the stock is required to be removed, thus retaining maximum strength of stock, and it is explained that the function of the break d in the wall of each of the recesses is to enable the proper fitting of the pendent portion g in the recess, as well as the clamping-plate or washer therefor hereinafter referred to, it being evident that such fitting of such elements or parts of the device could not be effected if the wall of the recess was closed or l continuous at such point. The said break therefore is an important feature of the construction, as will appear. The said hanging portion or shank may be extended for a considerable distance from the tube, thus obtaining a very large seat or mounting for the level device upon the stock.

At each of the openings in the stock the shank or hanging portion g of the level device proper lies atly against the base of the recess c, the edge of said hanging portion working upon or against the innersurface of the side or wall of such recess, and fitting within such recess and lying against the shank or hanging portion is a clamping-plate or washer C, which is preferably hollowed out or flanged for the purposes of lightness and lwhich also has a central opening m, coinciding with the openings e and g2, and through which the clam pin g-screw e' also passes. The said plate is preferably constructed to completely fill the remainder of the recess, so as to be flush with the surface of the stock, and thus closing a space which would otherwise tend to collect mortar and other foreign substances. This construction also furnishes a bearing for the enlarged end of the screw e', serving to prevent iiexure of the same in the event of any stress being brought to bear thereon from above, and the clamping-pressure is distributed by said plate or washer over a large area, thereby serving to hold the level device proper in position with great security.

In order to protect the vial-glass in the end openings of the stock from injury or break- IOO IIO

age from the plumb-bobs usually employed with this class of levels, I prefer to employ some form of guard or protector therefor, and while various forms thereof may be adopted I construct the same in some instances as an integral part of theclamping-'plate or washer C, and the preferred form of which is indicated in Fig. 5. In said figure a sort of frame is cast or formed with said plate or washer, constituted of two upright portions n n', connected by cross pieces or rods n2 n2, and said upright portions are bent so as to cause the rods to lie over or above the vial-glass, asindicated in Fig. 3, for instance. The dotted lines in Fig. 5 show the straight form of the frame previous to the bending over of the uprights fn n.' These latter, it may be remarked, are usually located about at the ends of the vial-glass, and, taking the structure as a whole, it will be seen that a simple and most eective guard is secured. It is of course evident that I am not limited to this precise form, nor is it to be understood that the clamping-plate or washer necessarily involves as a component thereof any such guard structure, for it is evident that the function of vrate and apart from each other.

each of these said elements is entirely sepa- The construction has been found practical and convenient, and for which reason it is preferred. Fig. 3 indicates very clearly the construction and organization of my improved spirit-level, and on reference thereto it will be seen how the adjustment of thelevel device proper may be eected by the simple introduction of a' screw-driver or other implement (operating as a wedge or a lever) after the screw e has been slightly loosened. By loosening said screw the pressure of the clamp-plate or washer C against the shank or pendent portion'of the level device A2 is of vcourse relieved, and then the said device may be turned up or adjusted from either end, as is evident.

My improved level has the advantage that the level device is adjustable on a fixed cen-v ter or upon an axis having no variation or shifting from an established point or position, andvit will be seen that from such an' organization the most accurate and reliable adjustmentsmay be effected by simply turning the level device in one direction or the other. After adj ustm'ents are effected the clampplate or washer is of course again tightened, the pressure exerted thereby covering a large area and establishing a iirm and extended bearing for the level device A2. It will be understood that in making adjustments the pressure is never entirely removed from the clamp-plate, but only reduced, so that alinement is preserved. From the construction such as I have illustrated it will be seen that at the point of mounting of the level device upon the stock portions of the latter are securely clamped by the several elementsthat is to say, between the hanging portion g and the fastening-nutf-and in this way tendcombined.

ency to' splitting of the stock is largely overcome.

portion and hanging portion will of course be understood as being intended to apply to the structure when the leveling devices proper are in a horizontal position, or approximately so.

In Figs. 6, 7, and 8 I have shown a modification of my invention wherein I form or construct the pendentV or hanging portion g with oppositely-disposed concentric arc-slots g6 gi, and inserted in the wood ofthe stock through said slots are screws g7 g7,which are so adj usted that the heads thereof bear with suliicieut friction to prevent the level vdevice A2 from falling out of alinement at times when the clamp-plate is loosened up for adjustments. Said screws frictionally hold the level device proper to whatever position it may be turned or adj usted, but do not exert pressure enough to require to be loosened when new adjustments areto be made. This construction'is eective, but is not intended to supersede the structure first described.

From the foregoing it will be seen that I have provided a level-stock and level device proper each especially adapted to the other, and it will also be seen that they may be supplied to the trade either separately or If in the use of the implement either one or the other of said elements should become impaired or be rendered useless from any cause, it may easily be replaced, while the element remaining is still available for use therewith.

I have herein emphasized several important features of my invention kand in doing so have of course referred to the annexed drawings, wherein a selected embodiment is shown. It will be understood, however, that I do not limit myself in practice to any of the precise details of construction and organization of such embodiment, since various changes therein may be made and still come within the spirit and scope of my invention.

Having described my invention, I claim- 1. A spirit-level comprising a stock having an opening therethrough and formed in. one side with a recess having a break in the wall thereof at the base of such opening, a'vialtube located within the sides of the opening parallel with said base and having a pende-nt portion extending through said break and seated in said recess, and means for clamping said pendent portion to the base of the recess, Said means including a guard extending over said vial-tube.

- 2. A spirit-level comprising` a stock having an opening therethrough and formed in one side with a recess having a breakin the wall thereof at the base of such opening, a vialtube located within thesides of the opening parallel withsaid base and having a pendent portion extending through said break and adjustable in the recess on an invariable axis,

The use herein of the terms pendent.

IOO

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and means for clamping said pendent portion to the base of said recess, said means in- Vcluding a guard extending over said vial-tube.

3. A spirit-level comprising a stock having an opening therethrough and formed in one side With an approximately circular recess having a break in the wall thereof at the base of such opening, a vial-tube located Within the sides of the opening parallel with said base and having a pendent portion approximating the greater part of a circle in shape extending through said break and adjustable in the recess on an invariable axis, and means for clamping said pendent portion in place, said means including a guard extending over said vial-tube.

4. A spirit-level comprising a stock having an opening therethrough and formed in one side with an approximately circular recess having a break in the wall thereof at the base of such opening, a vial-tube located Within the sides of the opening parallel with the base thereof and having a pendent portion approximating the greater part of a circle in shape extending through said break and adjustable in the recess on an invariable axis, and a clamping device for said pendent portion having the same axis, said device including a guard extending over said vial-tube.

5. A spirit-level comprising a stock having an opening therethrough and formed in one side with an approximately circular recess having a break in the Wall thereof at the base of such opening, a vial-tube located Within the sides of the opening parallel with the base thereof and having a pendent portion approximating the greater part of a circle in shape extending through said break and adjustable in the recess on an invariable axis, a plate or washer also seated in the recess flush with the surface of thestock, and means for clamping said plate or Washer against the pendent portion to hold the leveling device in place, said plate or Washer being provided with a guard extending over said vial-tube.

6. A spirit-level comprising a stock having an opening therethrough and formed in one side with an approximately circular recess having a break in the wall thereof at the base of such opening, a vial-tube located Within the sides of the opening parallel with the base thereof and havinga pendent portion approximating the greater part of a circle in shape extending through said break and adjustable in the recess on an invariable axis, a removable axial member on which the pendent portion is adjustable, and means clamping said pendent portion in place, said means including a guard extending over said vial-tube.

7. A spirit-level comprising a stock having an opening therethrough and formed in one side With an approximately circular recess having a break in the Wall thereof at the base of such opening, a vial-tube located Within the sides of the opening parallel with said base and having a pendent portion approximating the greater part of a circle in shape extending through said break and seated in the re cess, and a clamping device for said pendent portion including a washer, a screw, and a nut, said washer being provided with a guard extending over said vial-tube.

8. A spirit-level comprising a stock having an opening therethrough and formed in one side with an approximately circular recess having a break in the wall thereof at the base of such opening, a vial-tube located Within the sides of the opening parallel with said base and having a pendent portion approximating the greater part of a circle in shape extending through said break and seated in the recess, said pendent portion having a central opening registering with a corresponding opening formed in the stock centrally of the recess, an axial member for the support of the pendent portion, and a plate and a nut on such member at opposite sides of the stock for securing said pendent portion in position, said plate being provided with a guard extending over said vial-tube.

9. A spirit-level comprising a stock having an opening therethrough and formed in one side with an approximately circular recess less in diameter than the distance between adjacent parts of the sides of said opening, and having a break in the wall thereof at the base of the opening, a vial-tube located within the sides of said opening parallel with said base and having a pendent portion approximating the greater part of a circle in shape extending through said break and adjustably se-l cured in the recess, the ends of said tube projecting beyond the edges of said pendent portion, and means for securing said pendent portion in place includinga guard extending over the vial-tube.

10. A spirit-level comprising a stock, a leveling device, and a clamp for the leveling device including a washer and a guard integral therewith, said guard being formed of an upright frame and connecting-bars, and said frame being bent to bring the bars directly above said leveling device.

1l. Aspirit-levelcomprisingastockhaving an opening therethrough and formed in one side with an approximately circular recess having a break in the Wall thereof at the base of such opening, a vial-tube located within the sides of the opening parallel with the base thereof and having a pendent portion approximating the greater part of a circle in shape passing through said break and seated in the recess, said pendent portion being adjustable on an invariable axis and formed with concentric arc-slots on opposite sides of said axis, screws entering the base of the recess through said slots, and a washer, a screw, and a nut for clamping said pendent portion in place.

l2. Aspirit-levelcomprisingastockhaving yan opening therethrough and formed in one side With an approximately circular recess lOO IIO

having a break in the Wall thereof at the base of such opening, a vial-tube located within the sides of the opening parallel with said base and having a pendent portion approximating the greater part of a circle in shape extending through said break and seated in the recess, and a clamp for said pendent portion including a Washer having a guard integral therewith formed of an upright frame and connecting-bars, said frame being bent to bring the bars directly above said vial-tube.

13. A spirit-level comprising a stock having an opening therethrough and formed in one side with an approximately circular recess having a break in the wall thereof at the base of such opening, a vial-tube located .Within the sides of the opening parallel with said base and having a pendent portion approximating the greater part of a circle in shape extending through said break and seated in the recess, and a clamp for said pendent portion including a washer, a screw, and a nut, said Washer having a guard integral therewith formed of anupright frame and connecting- CE u bars, and said frame being curved to bring the bars directly over said vial-tube.

14. A spirit-level comprising a stock having an opening therethrough and formed in one side with an approximately circular recess having a break in the wall thereof at the base of such opening, a vial-tube located within` the sides of the opening parallel with the base guard extending over the said vial-tube.

JUSTUS A. TRAUT.

Witnesses:

FRANK L. TRAUT, EBEN STRONG. 

